Army is the
only Pak institution that can settle Kashmir problem with India:
Altaf Hussain
An exclusive e-mail
interview to Prionka Jha
ZEE NEWS
Q1. Do you think that
Musharraf has the legitimacy to hold talks with India?
Ans. It would be better if these talks could have had taken place
between two elected prime ministers or the presidents of both the
countries. In India, Army has never interfered in the affairs of
the elected governments since 1947 and never imposed martial law.
Whereas in Pakistan, it has been a common practice that the Army
interferes and intervenes covertly or overtly in the affairs of
the elected governments and impose martial laws. Since the birth
of Pakistan, Army has directly ruled for 25 years and indirectly
for the remaining 28 years. No matter whether General Pervez
Musharraf`s government is legitimate or illegitimate but it is
also a common knowledge that the Army is the only institution in
Pakistan, which can settle the matter of Kashmir with India.
Otherwise, if this summit could have taken place with the elected
Government of Pakistan then the Army would have never accepted
the decision made in the summit by the elected Governments of
both the countries.
Q 2. Do you think the Indo-Pakistan
Summit at Agra will be successful?
Ans: I am not optimistic that very long pending and complex
matters would be solved in short time but I pray for the best.
Q 3: Can the current Pakistani authorities be trusted when it
comes to questions of war and peace?
Ans: I do not hold the powers and authorities in my hands. If I
would have, then certainly I would have used all my efforts to
establish friendly relationship with India and other neighbouring
countries and I would also try to make "No-War Pact"
with India and other neighbouring countries. As far as Pakistani
Authorities are concerned, I do not know that after fighting
three big wars with India and the Siachen and Kargil Wars,
whether they have learnt any lessons from these wars, even after
loosing one part (i.e. former East Pakistan). One should remember
that almost all these wars had taken place during the regimes of
army dictators.
Q 4: Will MQM treat any
agreement coming up from this summit as binding?
Ans: If it would be according to the policies of the MQM and
according to the aspirations of the people of Pakistan,
particularly the people of Kashmir.
Q 5: What are you opinions about General Musharraf and Mr
Vajpayee?
Ans: Mr Vajpayee is an elected prime minister of the largest
democratic country of the world, whereas General Musharraf is not
an elected President of Pakistan.
Q 6: What issues should be taken up?
Ans: All those issues, which are the root cause of conflicts and
wars.
Q 7: Would you like to visit
India?
Ans: Yes, of course, why not. When General Parvez Musharraf, a
Military General and others can visit India, why would I not?
Q 8: What would be your initiative to bring peace to the
Subcontinent?
Ans: I do not have any illusions, however, if the people of
Pakistan and the United Nations unanimously assign me being the
Founder and Leader of one of the largest political party of
Pakistan, I am confident that I will use all my abilities and
initiatives for the settlement of all the issues through
honourable, meaningful and sincere negotiations.
Q 9: Do you think Musharraf can be trusted in his promise to
restore democracy in Pakistan?
Ans: God knows better.
Q 10: What are the two biggest
internal enemies of Pakistan according to you today?
Ans: In my opinion the policy makers of the military and civil
establishments and the feudal oligarchy.